Joomla 3 reached end of support on 17 August 2023, so if your Joomla website still runs on it, this Joomla 3 to Joomla 4 feature comparison shows what you gain, what no longer exists and what you have to check before you migrate from Joomla 3, however, Joomla 4 support has also ended since then, which makes Joomla 4 a stepping stone and Joomla 5 the version to plan for.
As a Canadian company serving businesses in Canada and the USA, IDL Web Inc can help with your Joomla upgrade, your migration or a custom extension, ask for a FREE audit or a FREE quote and we will tell you what your Joomla website needs.
What Is New in Joomla 4
Joomla 4 changes the administrator interface, the security layer and the page speed of your Joomla website, most of it visible the first time you log in to the backend.
Administrator interface
The Joomla 4 backend has a redesigned administrator interface with cleaner navigation and quick access to the settings you use most, so finding a setting takes fewer clicks than in Joomla 3. The updated control panel also puts the most used features one click away, so administrators and content creators work faster.
Security features
Joomla 4 adds two-factor authentication, improved password hashing and stronger data encryption, which gives your Joomla website a better base against vulnerabilities than Joomla 3 had. Two-factor authentication, for example, adds a second check at login, so a stolen password alone does not open the administrator area.
Performance and speed
The Joomla 4 codebase was refactored with tighter database queries and better caching, so pages load faster and the server carries less load when your traffic goes up. Improved caching also lets a website handle higher traffic volumes without losing speed, which supports your search engine rankings.
Accessibility
Joomla 4 follows WCAG 2.1, with better keyboard navigation, better contrast ratios and semantic HTML markup, so visitors with disabilities can use your Joomla website more easily.
Content editor
The Joomla 4 content editor has a live preview and drag-and-drop support, so you see how a page will look before you save it. Together with the improved media management it makes creating and editing content less of a chore.
Media Manager
The Joomla 4 Media Manager supports drag-and-drop, bulk uploads and metadata on each file, which makes a big media library easier to sort. You can also organize files into categories to keep the library tidy as it grows.
Multilingual support
Language installation is simpler in Joomla 4 and the language switcher module is easier for visitors to use, so a multilingual Joomla website takes less work to maintain.
Built-in SEO tools
Joomla 4 generates search engine friendly URLs, gives you editable meta tags and works with the popular SEO extensions, a good starter kit for your Joomla SEO.
Not sure your Joomla 3 website is ready for Joomla 4?
IDL Web Inc can audit your Joomla website, check every extension, template and piece of custom code for Joomla 4 compatibility and tell you what has to change before anyone touches the live website.
What Was Dropped in Joomla 4
Joomla 4 removes deprecated features and changes the architecture underneath, however, that means anything built for Joomla 3 has to be checked one item at a time.
Deprecated features
Several deprecated Joomla 3 features are gone, so review your Joomla 3 website and adjust whatever depended on them before you migrate.
Legacy extensions and templates
Older extensions and templates may not run on Joomla 4 because of the architecture changes, so check that each one has a Joomla 4 release and if it has not, find an alternative or order custom Joomla extension development.
Third-party extension compatibility
Not every third-party extension was ready when Joomla 4 came out, so read the developer documentation or ask them directly before you start the migration.
Missing a Joomla 4 version of an extension?
When an extension was dropped or never updated, our developers can build a custom Joomla 4 extension that does the same job, so you keep the feature without keeping the old code.
Joomla 3 to Joomla 4 Migration Steps
Follow these four steps in this order and do not skip the backup.
Compatibility check
Run the official Joomla compatibility check to see whether your extensions, template and custom code are ready for Joomla 4.
Backup your website
Take a full backup of your Joomla 3 files and database, so you have a restore point if anything goes wrong during the migration.
Update core extensions
Update all extensions on your Joomla 3 website to their latest versions first and read their documentation or ask the developer if a Joomla 4 version is unclear.
Migrate content and data
Install Joomla 4 next to your existing Joomla 3 installation, then migrate the content, users and settings by following the official Joomla migration guide.
Which Joomla Version Should You Target Now?
Joomla 3 support ended on 17 August 2023 and Joomla 4 support has ended since, so this comparison mainly helps you understand what changed between the two generations and which of those changes affect your own website. The features above shipped with Joomla 4 and the later versions keep building on them, which is why we recommend planning your move to Joomla 5 or later and not stopping at Joomla 4.
A Joomla 3 website should first reach Joomla 3.10, the bridge version, run the Pre-Update Check and then migrate through a staging copy, as the migration steps above describe. If you want to see what comes after Joomla 5, read our guide to Joomla 6.
Checks to Run Before You Compare Versions
- List every extension and template on your Joomla 3 website and check each one for a Joomla 4 or Joomla 5 release.
- Review your custom code and template overrides, because they often need changes.
- Check that your PHP version and your hosting meet the requirements of the Joomla version you want.
- Check your multilingual setup, because Joomla 4 simplified the language installation and changed the language switcher module.
- Take a full backup of your files and your database.
- Test the upgrade on a staging copy before it touches your live website.
How IDL Web Inc Can Help
You can follow the four steps above and migrate the Joomla website yourself, however, most Joomla websites have at least one extension or template that needs work and that is where IDL Web Inc helps at every stage of the upgrade. IDL Web Inc is Toronto based and covers businesses across North America.
Upgrading your Joomla website
We review your Joomla 3 website, update the extensions and the template and test the upgrade before it reaches your live Joomla website, so problems show up on a copy and not in front of your visitors.
Migrating to Joomla 4 or Joomla 5
We install the new Joomla version next to your existing website and migrate the content, users and settings, see our Joomla migration services for the full process.
Building custom Joomla extensions
If an extension has no Joomla 4 version, we build a custom component, module or plugin for your Joomla website, see our Joomla development services.
Joomla maintenance after the upgrade
Once your Joomla website runs on the new version, we keep Joomla and every extension updated and backed up with our Joomla maintenance and support plans.
Don’t forget
Remember to always back up your Joomla website before performing any Joomla update and check every extension for a Joomla 4 version before you move anything.
If you are not comfortable running the migration yourself, leave it to the Joomla developers at IDL Web Inc, ask for a FREE audit or a FREE quote and we will tell you exactly what your Joomla website needs. Our team is Toronto based and helps businesses across North America. Keep up with us to know more of Joomla news/fixes!
Schedule Consultation with An Expert
IDL Web Inc can help with your Joomla upgrade, your migration or a custom extension, ask for a FREE audit or a FREE quote and we will tell you what your Joomla website needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our support team is ready to help, contact us if your Joomla question is not answered here.
Can I directly upgrade from Joomla 1.5 or 2.5 to Joomla 4?
No, a direct upgrade from Joomla 1.5 or 2.5 to Joomla 4 is not supported, you have to move to Joomla 3 first, check that everything works there and then start the Joomla 4 migration.
Will my current Joomla 3 template work in Joomla 4?
It depends on the template, because Joomla 4 changed the template structure and markup, so ask the template developer or read their documentation to see whether a Joomla 4 version exists.
Are there any known security vulnerabilities in Joomla 4?
No software is free of vulnerabilities, so keep your Joomla 4 installation and every extension up to date and stay informed about the latest security updates.
Can I still use third-party extensions in Joomla 4?
Yes, as long as the extension developer released a Joomla 4 compatible version, however, because of the architecture changes some extensions need an update, so check each one before you migrate.
Is there any performance improvement in Joomla 4?
Yes, the refactored codebase, the tighter database queries and the improved caching in Joomla 4 give faster page load times for administrators and visitors.
How long will Joomla 3 be supported after the release of Joomla 4?
Joomla 3 has not been supported since 17 August 2023 and Joomla 4 support has ended since too, so migrate to Joomla 5 or later to keep getting security updates.
